text messaging in online teaching: an online educator's journey
DESCRIPTION
Short Message Service (SMS), commonly referred to as text messaging, has rapidly become one of the most widely adopted forms of electronic communication today. This presentation at 17th Annual Sloan Consortium International Conference on Online Learning, November 7, 2011, shared the experiences of one online instructor who has implemented SMS into his online teaching to foster increased online presence and interaction.TRANSCRIPT
Text Messaging in Online Teaching
An Online Educator’s Journey :: @jrhode
FactsSources
October, 2011 ECAR National Study of Undergraduate Students and IThttp://educause.edu/ecar
September 19, 2011 report by Pew Internet and American Life Project http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Cell-Phone-Texting-2011.aspx
April 20, 2010 report by Pew Internet and American Life Project http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Teens-and-Mobile-Phones.aspx
June 17, 2010 Wired Campus Report http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/student-smartphone-use-doubles-instant-
messaging-loses-favor/248762
75% of 12-17 year-olds own cell phonesPhoto credit: flickr.com/photos/librarianguish/4594070690
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• fdsa
50% of teens send 50 or more text messages a day; 30% send more than 100 texts a day
Photo credit: flickr.com/photos/yourdon/3478186431
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• gfds
99.8% of college students own one or more cell phones5
Photo credit: flickr.com/photos/yourdon/4303061929
• Nm,
53% of phone-owning students have smartphones6
Photo credit: flickr.com/photos/danzen/4387877247
• fda
97% of students use text messaging as their main form of communication
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Photo credit: flickr.com/photos/irisheyes/5431140
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31% of U.S. adults prefer to be reached by text messagePhoto credit: http://mashable.com/2011/09/19/31-of-u-s-adults-prefer-to-be-reached-by-text-message-study/?
t=1320241180
Image credit: educause.edu/studentsAndTechnologyInfographic
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Google Voice
voice.google.com10
google.com/googlevoice/about.html11
Google Voice App
12google.com/mobile/voice
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List of SMS Gateways
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_SMS_gateways15
Student Option to Opt-in
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Review of Email-to-SMS Steps
1) Setup Google Voice account & installed GV app on my phone
2) Gave students my Google Voice number3) Invited students to opt-in to receiving sms
communications, requesting their mobile number and provider
4) Created sms list with gateway email addresses5) Sent welcome text via Google Voice
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twitter.com/ionsn111122
Remind101.com
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My Experience
jasonrhode.com/howtosms26
Feedback from Students
• Results of surveys of students during summer and fall 2011
• Total of 27 students (all graduate students) responded from across 3 different course sections
• Survey conducted as a Google Form at the end of each the course
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Comments on Podcasting
• “Loved that there was also a written copy - if I couldn't listen to it , I could still get the info.”
• “Being able to hear and read the weekly messages was very helpful for me as I am audio learner! It was helpful to have them in print to look back on, but the spoken messages were wonderful!”
• “I liked the podcasts. It was more entertaining to hear someone else's voice other than my own in my head while reading it.”
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More Podcasting Comments
• “I feel that your use of podcasting addressed different learning styles. I could listen and read your assignments. Also, I found your podcast and videos very helpful when I had to learn how to use a new form of technology such as Twitter, Social Bookmarking and Blogs. Thanks for showing how to do things instead of only reading how to do it.”
• “It's a really nice option to have.” 33
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Comments on Text Messaging
• “It was helpful when the text information was also on blackboard. I found it helpful to see the information in two places.”
• “I still had to go online to see if I had grades, assignments, or email even when I did not receive a text.”
• “Texting was a nice reminder about when Modules started and were due. Sometimes you just cannot get to a computer to check your email frequently.”
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More Texting Comments
• “I thought it was very helpful, it reminded me to look at blackboard for the modules.”
• “My current plan is a two year contract with a pay per use text and mobile Internet option”
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General Findings Thus Far
• Majority of students who opted-in responded that they’ve found text messages helpful
• Majority of students with text message capabilities stated they’d be likely to opt-in to receive text messaging course updates in future
• Only a few have sent text messages to instructor• Automated service like remind101.com is easier
for instructor than manual process sending via email
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Questions?
• Any questions? Feel free to ask during our session, or tweet @jrhode following the session
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Presenter Contact Info
Jason [email protected] (email)twitter.com/jrhode (twitter)jasonrhode.com (blog)niu.edu/jrhode (web)815.209.9783 (phone)
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j.mp/aln2011sms